Few differences at Council candidates forum

Candidates for Kirksville City Council do little to highlight differences as race for two open seats nears finish line

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By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Kirksville Daily Express - Kirksville, MO

By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Posted Mar. 27, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 4:28 PM

By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Posted Mar. 27, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 4:28 PM

Kirksville

The four candidates for City Council present at the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce Candidates' Forum Tuesday night found little to disagree on and only twice needed the services of the timekeeper's gentle reminders to make for an agreeable and short event.

Brandon Athon, Randall Bacon, Richard Detweiler and Glen Moritz aired their views on economic development, how best to support the student population, the upcoming $18 million wastewater bond issue and the Council's role in the city. A fifth candidate, Richard Green, was unable to attend the forum.

But attendees would have had to look closely to see any differences, to the extent that a candidate jokingly responded with "ditto" as he was in complete agreement with his opponents.

Detweiler touted his experience on the Council for the past five years, having served the most recent term as mayor. He cited a belief that the Council should work with the citizens as fellow neighbors and friends.

"I enjoy giving back to the community and I want to continue our work making the best decisions possible that benefit the people and is financially sound," he said.

Athon also hinted at the financial responsibilities of the Council in his opening statements, saying he was running to ensure Kirksville is fiscally-responsible now and in the future.

"I'd like to bring manufacturing back if at all possible, that way people can work here and not have to drive out of town," he said. "I will work closely with the economic director to make that happen. I truly believe being on the City Council, you're here to work for the citizens of Kirksville."

Moritz highlighted his experience living in Seattle and other metro areas and seeing positive actions and efforts there that could translate to Kirksville.

"I think there are a number of good things they did there I can assist in bringing here," he said. "I want to follow what John F. Kennedy asked us to do, in asking not what our country can do for us but what we can do for our country."

Bacon said after living in Kirksville for nearly a decade, he was interested in affecting local change and improvements.

"I came here for the opportunity to go to school and after school the wife and kids were like, 'We've got to stay here in town.' This is a wonderful community and I want to help by enhancing what we have here," he said.

But from there, the four candidates did little to differentiate themselves, with all four in favor of commercial development of Highway 63, supporting the involvement of students in the community and backing the proposed $18 million bond issue for the wastewater facility.

At times, each candidate admitted to total agreement with their opponents in particular on the Highway 63 issue and on whether voters should approve the wastewater bond issue.

Page 2 of 2 - "We're 100 percent for any commercial development [on the new highway]," Detweiler said, referring to himself and the current City Council, but he could have been speaking for all four candidates, as well.

"I totally agree with Mr. Detweiler," Moritz said.

"I'm 100 percent behind development of Highway 63," Athon said.

"I echo those sentiments," Bacon said.

All four candidates also implored voters to approve the revenue bond issue for $18 million for the wastewater facility.

"It's going to cost us more money if we do not pass it now," Moritz said. "To me it seems to be a given. I would not want to live here in town with substandard sewage treatment."

Bacon said he "totally agreed" and that if voters did not approve the measure, they would be looking at a more expensive funding method down the road. "It needs to be done and this is the least costly."

Athon compared approving the revenue bond as the "least of two evils," saying that while voters will have to pay for it either way, a revenue bond and potential use of low-interest state loan funds would be the "easiest route to go."

Detweiler touched upon both the economic and environmental aspects of the plant's upgrade, saying "We want to leave our world in a better position than it is now and the only way to do that is to protect the water and the air." He said the extra capacity would allow for another Kraft Foods size of operation to move into Kirksville.

The forum in its entirety will be broadcast on the city's cable Channel 3 Saturday and Sunday at noon and 7 p.m. and then Monday at 7 and 9 p.m.

Election Day is April 2 at polling places across the city. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Looking for more on the City Council candidates?

Check out the weekend edition of the Daily Express to find profiles on each candidate, in addition to a look at the $18 million wastewater bond issue.